About the Founder and President of The Planner Networks
Shawna Suckow, CMP, Founder The Planner Networks: IN, neXt and SPIN
Meeting/Event/Expo planner for 18 years
Shawna Suckow, CMP, was a corporate planner for seven years before starting her own company, COMPASS Events, in 1999. She founded SPIN in 2008, and retired COMPASS in 2009 to focus entirely on SPIN. Shawna has written many columns and has been featured in numerous industry publications including ONE+, EXHIBITOR, Corporate Meetings & Incentives, Smart Meetings, and more. She also speaks domestically and internationally on social media, sponsorship strategies, and current industry issues relevant to senior-level planners. Shawna was honored as Distinguished Volunteer of the Year in 2009 by Minnesota MPI.
Meeting/Event/Expo planner for 18 years
Shawna Suckow, CMP, was a corporate planner for seven years before starting her own company, COMPASS Events, in 1999. She founded SPIN in 2008, and retired COMPASS in 2009 to focus entirely on SPIN. Shawna has written many columns and has been featured in numerous industry publications including ONE+, EXHIBITOR, Corporate Meetings & Incentives, Smart Meetings, and more. She also speaks domestically and internationally on social media, sponsorship strategies, and current industry issues relevant to senior-level planners. Shawna was honored as Distinguished Volunteer of the Year in 2009 by Minnesota MPI.
About the Vice President of Programs
Tracey B. Smith, CMP, CMM
Corporate Meeting Planner for 20+ years
Tracey Smith, CMP, CMM, managed the extensive user conferences and national sales meetings for a software division of Thomson Reuters for more than 12 years. Since 2005, she has been an independent contractor for various events as well as assisting planners with finding the right speaker for their events. Tracey has the distinct honor of being named the Planner of the Year 2001 by the Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter of MPI and the Supplier of the Year 2008 by the Minnesota Chapter. She is currently working on an educational book using planners' horror stories and welcomes submissions.
Corporate Meeting Planner for 20+ years
Tracey Smith, CMP, CMM, managed the extensive user conferences and national sales meetings for a software division of Thomson Reuters for more than 12 years. Since 2005, she has been an independent contractor for various events as well as assisting planners with finding the right speaker for their events. Tracey has the distinct honor of being named the Planner of the Year 2001 by the Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter of MPI and the Supplier of the Year 2008 by the Minnesota Chapter. She is currently working on an educational book using planners' horror stories and welcomes submissions.
About the Vice President of Operations
Sara Vanderbilt
Prior to becoming the Director of Operations at The Planner Networks, Sara Vanderbilt worked as a meeting and training seminar planner. Sara caught the “meeting planning” bug when she worked as an Independent Trip Director. She has planned meetings and training seminars for various corporations both nationally and internationally, including seminars delivering Microsoft's latest technology. Now, in her role as Director of Operations, she manages all aspects of supporting seminar logistics to ensure their success, from site selection to follow-up surveys.
Prior to becoming the Director of Operations at The Planner Networks, Sara Vanderbilt worked as a meeting and training seminar planner. Sara caught the “meeting planning” bug when she worked as an Independent Trip Director. She has planned meetings and training seminars for various corporations both nationally and internationally, including seminars delivering Microsoft's latest technology. Now, in her role as Director of Operations, she manages all aspects of supporting seminar logistics to ensure their success, from site selection to follow-up surveys.
